Process of making combs for shaving implements



'May 13, 1941. v JEPSON 2,242,180

\ PROCESS OF MAKING COMBS FOR sHAvINe IMPLEMENTS Filed Ma 21, 195

Patented May 13, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE rnocnss OF MAKING COMBS ro'n IMPLEMENTS SHAVING Ivar Jepson, Chicago, 111., 'asslgnor to Chicago Flexible Shaft Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois I Application May 21, 1938, Serial No. 209,236

10 Claims.

This invention relates to shaving implements of the type known as dry shavers and has more particular reference to a process of making that part commonly known as the comb.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved process of making a comb having hair-receiving perforations in a curved skinof shaver combs with the view to promoting economy in cost.

Other objects and attendant advantageswill be appreciated as the invention becomes, better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Flgure 1 is a fragmentary cross-section through the cutting end of a shaving implement having a comb embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section through the shaver showing a side view of the comb;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the comb; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are longitudinal and cross-sections, respectively, through the comb.

In illustrating my invention I have shown a comb for application to, an electric dry shaver embodying the teachings of the Bruecker Patent 2,081,694. It should be understood, however,

that my invention in certain of its phases is not confined to the manufacture of a comb or cutter head for use with the said Bruecker invention, but is applicable to combs or cutter heads for dry shavers generally. In the embodiment here shown, the comb designated generally by I i has a perforated portion curved in cross-section and a cutter blade I2 is rapidly moved across the inner side of the perforated portion and supported with freedom to be urged outwardly against the comb in shearing coaction therewith by centrifugal force, or spring force, or both. In this instance the comb is removably supported on a body i3 and the blade I2 is carried in a'holder ll mounted on the body l3'to oscillate about the shaft center l5, rapid oscillation being transmitted to the blade holder from the armature shaft lfi of the motor through an eccentric driving connection II, this forming the subject matter of a separate application for patent.

The present invention deals ,with a process of manufacturing a comb per se. 1

My invention contemplates making the comb from sheet steel stock heavier than the extremely thin spring steel stock of approximately .003" heretofore used, and forming and fabricating the strip by simple and economical operations in such manner as to obtain the advantages of the prior comb construction and the additional advantages of a permanently shaped and reenforced comb body. As an illustration the sheet steel may be approximately .012" in thickness. The first step is to perforate the strip by one or more punch press operations to form the desired hairreceiving openings. Here I have shown two types of such openings consisting of small annular holes I8 01 approximately .025" diameter closely positioned throughout a shaving area designated generally by l9 and toothlike perforations ii at opposite sides of the shaving area. The small closely positioned perforations are for close shaving and the tooth-like perforations are for long hair cutting as claimed in the Bruecker application Serial No. 178,221, filed December 6, 1937,

now Patent No. 2,234,891. Any further perforations may also be made at the same time, such, for example, as locating abutments 22 adapted to fit against complemental abutments on the body l3 and relief or cleaning openings not shown which may be formed along the outer sides of the shaving area I! for the discharge of cut hair particles. Following this the comb is formed by suitable dies to the desired cross-sectional shape characterized by a curved formation of the perforated portion preferably on a true arc. In this embodiment the comb is formed to a shape approximately semi-circular in cross-section with the perforated areas equally divided at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the comb. Since the comb retains its inherent formed shape it may tie accurately supported in operative position on 'suitable locating orsupporting shoulders or points preferably engaging its internal face. In the present case the comb seats on shoulders 20 on the body l3 and may be so held by suitable means. I have here turned the longitudinal side margins of the comb outwardly as at 23 to provide projecting flanges for engagement by suitable clamping or hold-down members 24. Each member 24 so engages the adjacent flange as to firmly hold the comb seated, in this instance each member having spaced abutments 24' which engage the flange 23 at opposite ends as shown in Fig. 2 and having a loose fit at its mounting so that the member 24 may accommodate itself to any irregularities and the clamping pressure will be equally distributed at opposite ends, of the comb. Following formation of the comb as described it is hardened. Certain grinding, lapping or honing operations are then performed, the particular order or sequenceof which is not essential except perhaps as-respects the grinding of the outer face. In practice, I prefer to grind or lap the inner face 25 of the perforated portion on a true are to provide accurately finished cutting edges at the inner end of each of the hairreceiving perforations and at the same time provide a shearing face accurately conforming to the shape of the movable'cutting blade or blades as the case may be when the comb is assembled in its working position, this process of manufacture being the subject matter of an application of John Bruecker, Serial No. 189,573, filed February 8, 1938, now Patent No. 2,182,067. The comb is then ground on its exterior face to reduce the dimension or section of the perforated hairreceiving portions to provide shape characteristics contemplated by my present invention and at the same time reenforce the perforated body in view of the extreme thinness to which it is reduced by the grinding. This grinding may be performed in various ways and for purpose of illustration I prefer to clamp the comb onto an arbor and perform certain grinding operations by relative movement between the arbor and a grinding wheel. In furtherance thereof the comb is clamped to a rotary arbor (not shown) the center of which is approximately .004" off from the center of the comb in a plane intersecting the center of the grinding wheel, the circumference of which is here indicated by 26, as shown in Fig. 5. Here, the center and radius of the inner face of the comb is designated by the radius line 2'! and the offset of the arbor center is designated by the dimension arrows 28. In the preferred operation the outer face of the comb is ground off throughout its length over the area indicated by 29, Fig. 3, leaving a center thickness of approximately .008". In view of the off center mounting of the comb on the arbor, the comb gradually increases in thickness from the center to the outer side portions, substantially as shown in Fig. 5. Following this the outer surface is ground of approximately over the area indicated by 3i, Fig. 3, to a thickness of approximately .003" at the center of the comb, thus reducing the close shaving area to a very thin section. During this grinding operation a portion 32 is left to provide an integral reenforcing rib across the center of the thin section and this section is further reenforced by the ribbed formation at each extreme end. As a further illustration of these grinding operations, assuming the inside radius 21 to be .312", the radius 33 is .319" and the radius 34 is .324". These dimensions are merely for purpose of illustration and not as limi ations except wherein claimed relatively as preferred embodiments.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. The process of making a comb for a shaving implement including the steps of perforating a strip of sheet steel to provide hair-receiving openings, forming the strip to dispose the perforated portion in a. curved shape, hardening the strip, grinding or lapping the inner side of the curved portion to provide accurately finished cutting edges at the inner end of the perforations, and grinding the outer face ofthe perforated portion to reduce the same to a thin section.

2. The process set forth in claim 1, in which the grinding operation leaves an external rib integral with the perforated portion for reenforcing the same.

3. The process of making a comb for a shaving implement including the steps of perforating a strip of sheet steel to provide small closely arranged openings in a shaving area and tooth-like perforations at one side of said area, forming the strip to dispose the perforated portions in a curved shape, hardening the strip, grinding or lapping the inner side of the curved portion to provide accurately finished cutting edges at the inner end of the perforations, and grinding the outer face of the perforated portion to reduce this portion to a thin section.

4. The process of making a comb for a shaving implement including the steps of perforating a strip of sheet steel to provide small closely arranged openings in a shaving area and tooth-like perforations at one side of said area, forming the strip approximately to semi-circular shape in cross-section, grinding the outer face of the strip throughout the perforated area to reduce the thickness of the perforated portions, and grinding only the outer face of the area having the small perforations to reduce this area to an extremely thin section.

5. The process of making a comb for a shaving implement including the steps of perforating a strip of sheet steel to provide small closely arranged openings in a shaving area and tooth-like perforations at one side of said area, forming the strip approximately to semi-circular shape in cross-section, hardening the strip, grinding or lapping the inner side of the curved portion to provide accurately finished cutting edges at the inner end of the perforations, grinding the outer face of the strip throughout the perforated area to reduce the thickness of the perforated portions, and grinding only the outer face of the center thickness of about .008, and grinding the shaving area to a center thickness of about .003".

7. The process of making a comb for a shaving implement including the steps of perforating a strip of sheet steel of approximately .012" to provide small closely arranged openings in a shaving area and'tooth-like perforations at one side of said area, forming the strip to approximately semi-circular shape with the perforated areas equally distributed at both sides of the longitudinal center line, clamping the comb to an arbor, the center of which is approximately .004" off the center of the comb, grinding about .004 off the outer face of the comb over the length thereof leaving a center thickness of about .008", then grinding the shaving area to a centerthickness of about .003", in both instances the grinding being effected by turning the arbor about its center with the grinding wheel held on a fixed center.

8. The process of making a comb for a shaving implement including the steps of perforating a blank or sheet steel to provide in a given area hair-receiving openings having shape characteristics of a kind adapted for close shaving and in an adjoining area hair-receiving openings of different shape characteristics adapted for long hair cutting, bending the perforated areas of the blank to a curved form, grinding or lapping the v inner side of the curved portion on an arc approximately coincident withvthat of a coacting cutter to provide accurately finished; cutting edges at'the inner end of the perforations, and grinding the outer face of the first mentioned perforated area on an are greater than that of the first mentioned are to provide an extremely thin section at the center of said first mentioned area gradually increasing in thickness toward the sides of said area.

9. The process of making a comb for a shaving implement including the steps of forming a blank of sheet steel to provide hair-receiving openings in a given area, forming said area to a curved shape, lapping the inner side of said area t6 provide accuratelyfinished cutting edges, and grinding the outer face of said area to reduce the same to an extremely thin section except for one or more narrow portions extending across said area and serving to reinforce the same.

I 10. The process of making a comb for a shaving implement including, stamping a blank from sheet steel to provide an area intended for close shaving, an area for long hair cutting, and an area constituting a frame portion for supporting the comb on a shaving implement, perforating the blank to provide relatively small openings in the first mentioned area having shape characteristics adapted for close shaving and to provide elongated slot-like openings in the second mentioned area having shape characteristics adapted for long hair cutting, bending the blank to position the said areasin the relative relation to each other which they are intended to occupy in the shaving implement, and grinding the exterior surfaces of the perforated areas, the first mentioned area to an extremely thin section adapted for said close shaving shape characteristics and the second mentioned area to a lesser degree to provide a relatively rigid section adapted for said long hair cutting shape characteristics.

IVAR JEPSON. 

